MediA IssueS & DebateS

Comparing texts and exploring the media issues and debates that they raise..

Gill Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution will not be televised’ (1972) and Dj Vadim ft Sarah Jones ‘Your Revolution’ (1998) directly focus on the issues and debates centered around the media, and its overall influences on society. However both pieces of music concentrate on different aspects of the media: Scott-Heron protests about how the media sub-stand the black culture, whereas Jones feminist parody, challenges the subordinate stereotypes of women.

Scott-Heron strongly suggests that television subliminally sends out messages to the frail minds of the black public and feeds those degrading values and ideologies from the predominantly white rulers of the media of the time. Advertisement, in particular, manipulate the minds into thinking that that certain products are needed in order to feel good, however Scott-Heron attacks these suggestions and continuously states ‘The revolution will not be televised.’ He establishes on the point of advertisements utilising the effects theory whereby false ideas are injected into passive audiences (hypodermic needle model) by the ruling class until they are progressively less able to criticise it, but Scott-Heron directly rejects these – ‘The Revolution will not go better with Coke’. During the 1970’s, however, media was not as widespread as it is in contemporary society; nonetheless the influence of media would be far greater than it is now as audiences in the 70’s were not as media-literate.

On the other hand, Jones comments on a feminist revolution as opposed to a black revolution; however this text make references to Gill Scott-Heron’s therefore you can classify it as a post-modernism piece of music. ‘Your revolution will not happen between these thighs’ vividly depicts her feminist nature as she feels she must make sexual references. Mulvey’s theory of passive females and active makes can be applied as Jones claims throughout the sexual exploitation of black female’s in popular music. The song does not hesitate to expose the feminist analysis of some of the famous rappers such as biggie smalls and LL Cool J, however she masterly denounces their macho lyrics – ‘Your revolution will not find me in the back seat of a jeep with LL.’ As well as targeting black ale artists, she does not refuse to also single out all those female artists that ‘gladly give up [there] behind/ Just so [they] can get signed.’ She undermines Foxy Brown and resents any comparisons made between herself and Brown- ‘I’m Sarah Jones/Not Foxy Brown.’ This portrays Jones satire attitude towards females that sacrifice their own self-respect as a way to make a name for them.

Scott-heron also establishes on this representation of back people, however he states that they are all victims of the predominately white-cultured media. He cries out for unity within the black community, and claims after the revolution they will not be gunned down by ‘pigs’. This is similar to how Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling for Columbine’ (2002) where he reveals that black ales are being portrayed as deviant by the media. The Marxist theory is applicable as the main issue being raised is this under representation and negative depiction of black people due to the hegemonic values and ideologies.

In ‘Your Revolution’, Jones is specifically out to promote feminism by satirically emulating other artists such as LL Cool J. This deliberate intertextuality allows this text to be seen as a pastiche. Her mention to black music artists suggests that she is challenging the misogynistic music culture and the values and ideologies that have been promoted with it abut the ways women are degraded. Jones particular viewpoint is that women do not need to objectify themselves in order to gain success, therefore Jones is supporting pluralism – rejection of the concept of a mass culture. Women are just as capable of succeeding without having to lower the self-respect

To conclude, both texts broadcast their viewpoints to its audiences successfully. They raise media issues and topics which can still be debated in today’s society. Many theories can be applied according to what both Jones and Scott-Heron are protesting.

posted by Dinni @ 7:11 pm